Visual-signal apparatus.



R. EINBIGLER.

VISUAL SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. s, 1909.

940,444. Patntedivov. 16, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

f 1 z l/ ATTORNEYS ffy/jmmr@ Patented Nov. 16, 1909. 2 SHEETS-MEET 2.

I 4m lI l/vmwolf By MC2 Arron/vm R EINBIGLER.

VISUAL SIGNAL APPARATUS. ,APPLICATION FILED APR. s, 1909.

RUDOLF EINBIGLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VISUAL-SEGIIAL APARATUS.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Fatented Nov. 15, 1909.

Application filed April 8, 1909. Serial No. 488,617.

To all 'whom fit may concer-a:

Be it lrnown that I, RUDOLF EINBIGLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State oi' New York, have invented a new and improved Visual-Signal Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description.

The invention relates to visual signal apparatus, such as shown and described in the Letters Patent of the United States, No. 632,106, granted to me August 29, 1899.

rllhe object of the invention is to provide a new and improved visual signal apparatus, designed for use in stoclr exchanges, factories, business houses and other mercantile establishments, and arranged for summoning a person to a meeting place by displaying the persons name, number or other indicating character, and also a station or a place to which the person is directed for meeting the caller.

For the purpose mentioned, use is made of an annunciator board, on which are arranged calling units, each of which consists of a name plate bearing the persons name or other indicating character', and a plurality of station or place plates, all electrically controlled from a distant point in such a manner that the name plate and one of the station or place plates are displayed simultaneously.

A. practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings torming a part ot this speciiication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a face view of the annunciator board provided with a plurality of calling units; Fig. 2 is a rear face view of the same and showing the electro-magnetic mechanism for one calling unit; Fig. 3 is a cross section otl the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. is an enlarged sectional plan view ot one of the place annunciators actuated by two electro-magnets, the section being on the line 1-4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 is a face view otl the same; Fig. G is a transverse section ot the same on the line G-G of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a transverse section ot one oit the place annunciators actuated by a single electromagnet; and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view ot the improvement Cn the annunciator board A are arranged calling units B, B, B2, one for each person or member liable to be called 'trom a distant point, each unit being provided with a name plate C pivoted at C at the middle of the annunciator board A so that the name plate C can swing down into a closed position, as shown at the unit B in Fig. 1, or upward into a display posit-ion, as illustrated at the units B and B2 in Fig. 1. The name plate C is provided on its displaying tace with the name, numeral or other indicating character for the person to be called, for instance, as shown in Fig 1, the name plates bear consecutive numerals, one for each person or member. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the members, designated by the numbers 212 and 211i, are called from remote points, as hereinafter more fully explained.

In order to swing the name plate C of each unit either into the down or up position, the following arrangement is made: A. rod D having an angular end D is mounted to slide transversely in a suitable bearing Fl, arranged on the back of the annunciator board A, and the forward end of the rod D extends through an opening A. formed in the board il, so that the angular end D is adapted to engage the back of the naine plate C at the time the latter is in an up position, as indicated in Fig. 3. Now when a forward movement is given to the rod D, then the angular end D pushes the name plate C so as to swing the name plate downward into a closed position, as indicated in Fig. 1. On the pivoted end of the name plate C is a weighted projection C2 adapted to swing behind the angular end D of the rod D and at the time the name plate C reaches a lowermost position, as indicated at the unit B in Fig. 1. Now when the rod D is moved rearwardly, then the angular end D exerts a pull on the projection C2, so that an upward swinging movement is given to the name plate C, to display the same, it being understood that it requires but little power to swing the plate C upward, as the weighted projection C2 aids the upward swinging movement of the plate after the weighted projection has been started by the alignlar end D of the rod D.

In order to give the pushing and pulling movement to the rod D, the rear end thereof is pivot-ally connected with one end of an oscillating armature F, oscillating between two electro-magnets F, F2, mounted on the rear of the annunciator board A. Now when the several parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, and the electro-magnet F2 is energized, then a swinging mot-ion is given to the armature lt in the direction of the arrow a, to move the rod'D forward, thus pushing' the naine plate C with a view to swing the same downward into a closing or a non-display posit-ion, as previously explained. When the electro-magnet li" is sub` sequently energized, then the armature lever it is caused to swing in the inverse direction of the arrow (if, so that the rod l.) is drawn rearward, and in doing so acts on the weighted projection C2, to swing the name plate C upward into a display position as before stated. p

ln the lower haltl of each calling unit and adjacent to the pivot of the name plate C are arranged a plurality ot' station or place plates (i, below lwhich are arranged a second set ot station or place plates H, so that when the name plate C is swung down into a closed position both sets ot station or place plates G and ll are covered up, as indicated at the unit B in Fig. l. `When, however, the naine plate C is swung upward into display position, then the several place plates (nl and Hare uncovered. Normally the station plates G and Il are in a closed or non-display position, and each is pivoted on the annunciator hoard A and when swung upward display a certain color or other' indicatingl character, representing a distant station or a place to which the person called is to go to meet the caller.

Each of the station plates (it has its pivotal end adjacent to the pivotal end ot' the name plate C, and each station plate Gr is adapted to be swung into an upward position by the action of an electro-magnet l, so that the station plate G overlies the lower portion of the naine plate C, as plainly indicated to the left of the lunit l5 in Fig. l. iV hen the name plate C 's swung downward this displayed station plate (l is carried along by the name plate C, and is thus swung back into a closed position. shown in Fig. 7, the single electro-magnet I is provided with. a pivoted armature l having an arm l2 adapted to engage a projection G2 on the pivotal. end of the plate Gr at the time the plate G is closed. Now when the electromagnet I is energized and its armature l is attracted, then. the arm l2 pushes on the projection G2 to swing the plate G upward into display position. The pivotalend ot the plate (lr is weighted or cmuiterbalanced to readily move the plate into tina] display position and to hold it therein until the name plate C is swung downward and returns the place plate G. Each station plate Gr when closed covers up a space G of a corresponding color on the annuuciator board A, so as to increase the station indicating character and thereby render the station more easily readable at the time the plate (l is swung up into display position.

The station plates H are swung up and down by two electro-magnets J and J arranged on the rear of the annunciator board A and controlling an armature J 2 pivoted at its middle at J3. 0n one end of the armature J 2 is arranged an arm J4 adapted to engage a projection H on the pivotal end ot the station plate H, to swing the plate lil downward whenever the electro-magnet J is energized. On the station plate H is also formed a second projection H2, adapted to abut againstthe arm J t at the time the plate H is in a lowermost position, so that when the other magnet J is energized the arm Jt pushes on the projection H2 to swing' the plate H into an upward or display position, as before explained (see the unit B2). Each plate H when closed covers an area H on the annunciator board A, and which area or space is colored corresponding to that ot` the plate H.

rlhc electric connections for each unit l5, l?, B2 are such that when the electro-magnet l1" is energized for swinging the name plate C into an up or display position, then at the same time one of the station plates G or H is likewise swung into an upward position by the corresponding electro-magnet l or J being' energized, and consequently' the unit indicates the member and the station at which the member is to mee', the caller.

For the purpose mentioned, the following arrai'igement is made, special reference being had to Fig. 8: A main key board l( is connected by a main line wire L with a battery or other source of electrical energy N, trom which leads a wire L connected by branch wires L2 and L3 with the opening and closing electro-magnets F, and F2 of the corresponding unit on the annunciator board A. On the main key board K are arranged sets of double contacts O and a pair ot push buttons O, (l2 for the same, one set for each calling unit on the annunciator board A. Each contact O is connected with the main line wire L, and the push button O is connected by a wire P with a central point l, from which leads a wire P2 to the opening electro-nmgnet F. The push button U2 is connected by a wire P3 with the closing magnets J ot the corresponding unit, the said closing magnets being connected by a wire l)t with the closing electro-magnet F2. Thus when the push button O is pressed, the main circuit is closed and the opening magnet F is energized, to swing the corresponding name plate (l into open or display position, thus giving notice to the corresponding member that his presence is desired at the main oliice in which the key board l( is located. When the other push button O2 is pressed then the closing circuit is closed, so that the closing electro-magnet F'2 is energized to swing the name plate (l back into closing position. lt is understood Cit that the push buttons O, L' are released immediately atter they have made connection with their double contact O so that the electro-magnets are denergizcd immediately after the name plate is swung into open or closed position. Fach ot the single magnets l is connected by a wire Q with the central point P and consequently with the opening electro-magnet F, and the said electro-magnets l are also connected by wires Q with the push buttons R ot sets ot double contacts R and pairs ot push buttons R, R2, similar to the sets of contacts and push buttons O, @2 but located at different stations. The push buttons R2 are connected by return wires P with the closing wire P3, previously mentioned, and connected with the closing electro-magnets J and F2, and the double contacts R are connected with the main line wire L. Thus when one ot the buttons R is pressed to close the circuit for the corresponding wire O, then the corresponding opening electro-magnets 1 and F are actuated simultaneously, to swing both the name plate C and the corresponding station plate G up into display position, and when the other push button R2 is pressed the circuit for the return wire P"i is closed and the electro-magnet is energized, and consequently the name plate (l is swung downward, and in doing so carries along the previously opened station plate G. The openingl magnets J are connected by wires S with the push button T of sets ot double contacts T and push buttons T, T2 located at different stations, and the said magnets are also connected by wires S with the common point P and hence with the opening magnet F. The push buttons T2 are connected with the return wires P, P3 connected with the closing electro-magnets J and F2, and the contacts T are connected with the main line wire L. Now when a push button T is pressed, the corresponding circuit for the wire S is closed and the correspondingl electro-magnet J and the electro-magnet F are energized to swing the name plate C and the corresponding station plate H into open position, and when thel other push button T2 is pressed the circuit for the return wire. P3 is closed and the corresponding electro-magnet J and the electro-magnet F2 are energized, to swing the name plate C and the corresponding station plate lfl bacl; into a closed position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A visual signal apparatus, comprising an annunciator board provided with annunciator units one tor a person, each unit having a name plate, different station plates, electro-mechanisms for actuating the said plates, and controlling circuits from dierent sections leading` to each unit, each controlling circuit containing the electro-mechanism for the said name annunciator plate and the electro-mechanism for one of the said station annunciator plates.

2. A visual signal apparatus, comprising a name plate mounted to swing, electro-magnets for controlling the said name plate, a station plate mounted to swing, an electromagnet Jfor ope 1ating the same, and a controlling circuit for both sets ot electro-magnets to actuate both plates simultaneously from one station.

3. A visual signal apparatus, comprising an annunciator board provided with annunciator units, each unit having a name plate, different station plates normally hidden by the said name plate, electro-magnetic mechanisms for the said plates of each unit, and controlling circuits for each unit, each controlling circuit containing the electromagnetic mechanism ;tor the said name plate and the electro-magnetic mechanism for one of the said station plates.

t. A visual signal apparatus, comprising an annunciator board provided with annunciator units, each having a pivoted name plate, a plurality ot pivoted station plates normally covered up by the said name plate, electro-magnetic mechanisms, one for swinging the said name plate upward into display position and the other for swinging the name plate downward into closing position, an electro-magnetic mechanism for each of the said station plates to swing the same upward into display position, and a plurality ot controlling circuits, each containing the electro-magnetic mechanism for the said name plate and the electro-magnetic mechanism for one of the said station plates.

5. A visual signal apparatus, comprising an annunciator board provided with annunciator units, each having a pivoted name plate, a plurality of pivoted station plates normally covered up by the said name plate, electro-magnetic mechanisms, one for swinging the said name plate upward into display position and the other for swinging the name plate downward into closing position, and electro-magnetic mechanism for each of the said station plates to swing the same upward` into display position and against the face of the said name plate, the latter on closing swinging the station plates downward into closing position, and a plurality of controlling circuits, each containing the electro-magnetic mechanism for the said name plate and the electro-magnetic mechanism for one of the said station plates.

6. A visual signal apparatus, comprising an annunciator board provided with annunciator units, each having a pivoted name plate, a plurality ot pivoted station plates normally covered up by the said name plate, electro-magnetic mechanisms, one for swinging the said name plate upward into display and a single armature for both electro-magnets and oscillating between them, and ha/V- ing an arm adapted to engage the said plate and its projection, to push the plate into one position and to pull the plate into the other position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RUDOLF EINBIGLER.

Witnesses Y THEO. G. Hos'rnn,

PHILIP D. RoLLHnUs. 

